ADT Security vs. Vivint Smart Home

Getting your home security system installed by a professional is appealing: no guesswork when it comes to placing cameras and sensors, and no squinting at instruction manuals. Instead, you just set the appointment, then relax and let the professionals do the work. But how do you choose which company to trust with your home’s security?

Both ADT and Vivint offer professional installation and have consistently scored well in our reviews over the years. Each has similar equipment and monitoring, but ADT is a little more traditional with plans and pricing, while Vivint is more forward-thinking when it comes to packaging its services. We decided to put the two companies side by side to get a better feel for their similarities and differences, so you can make the best decision for your home and your budget.

Pricing and Plans Comparison

Because Vivint doesn’t offer basic plans like ADT, we took ADT’s most basic smart system (ADT Pulse®) and compared it to a similar à la carte bundle from Vivint to get an equitable match for price comparison.

	Vivint Smart Home	ADT Pulse®
Monthly Monitoring Fee	Starting at $29.99	Starting at $53.99
Equipment Owned or Leased	Own	Lease
Equipment Cost	$549.99, or $9.17/mo. over 5 years	$49–$199 depending on current promotions
Installation Fee	$99	$47.99
Included Equipment	SkyControl™ panel SmartHome app 4 door/window sensors 1 motion sensor 1 yard sign with light Window stickers	Wireless control panel Pulse® app 2 door/window sensors 1 motion sensor Window decals and yard sign Key fob
Contract Length	None, unless equipment is financed, then choose a 3.5- or 5-year contract	3 years
Customer Service Rating	2 stars	3.5 stars
Activation Fees	None	None
	View Packages	View Packages

Data effective 8/22/2018.

What Do Vivint and ADT Have in Common?

Similarities between ADT and Vivint mostly have to do with devices and installation. Here are the main points where they align:

• Professional installation
• Wireless equipment
• Smart home Z-Wave devices
• Mobile app
• Professional monitoring
• Installation fees

How Are Vivint and ADT Different?

The most obvious differences between the two companies show up when you compare pricing and contracts. Here are a few points where Vivint and ADT differ:

• Plans and packages
• Contract length
• Monthly monitoring fees
• Equipment ownership

Vivint at a Glance

It only takes one look at the Vivint website to see that Vivint is all about smart home automation. The company earned our top spot for the Best Smart Home Security Systems because of its smart-home focus. You won’t find any budget-friendly basic security options with this company: even Vivint’s most basic packages include remote access to your security system through a mobile app. Its devices all use Z-Wave technology, so they’re compatible with a wide variety of other smart products on the market, including Amazon Echo, Nest®, Google Home, and doorbell cameras.

Unlike other home security companies, Vivint doesn’t have prepackaged plans. Instead, you buy only the equipment you need. You can pay for it up front or have the cost rolled into your monthly monitoring fee. But keep in mind that if you finance the equipment, you’ll be locked into a monitoring contract that can last for 3.5 or 5 years, depending on how quickly you want to pay off your equipment. If you don’t finance, you can pay for monitoring month by month. Contract flexibility makes Vivint a great option if you don’t want to be stuck with a long-term contract.

• Read our full Vivint home security review.

View Vivint Packages

ADT in a Nutshell

ADT has been a leader in home security for decades, but its lengthy contracts are a turnoff for a lot of people. ADT has six redundant monitoring centers to make sure you’re never without help in an emergency, and its longstanding experience in the security field is a definite plus.

If you’re just looking for something simple, ADT offers basic, budget-friendly systems without home automation. The equipment is wireless, but only top-tier systems offer Z-Wave compatible devices. ADT insiders tell us that the company’s panels will be getting a major technology upgrade at the end of 2018, so that will be something to watch for.

No matter what kind of system you choose, you’ll have to sign a monitoring contract with ADT before your system is installed. Contracts are for a minimum of three years, and you’ll also have to pay for the cost of leasing the equipment up front. One standout feature of ADT’s contracts is the six-month money-back guarantee—if you decide you don’t like your system or service, you can cancel it at any time within six months after you sign the contract. ADT will refund any monitoring fees.

• Read our full ADT home security review.
• Find answers to common ADT questions.

View ADT Packages

The Bottom Line

As much as we love ADT’s strong reputation, Vivint provides the same smart devices with reliable monitoring for a lower price. Vivint’s à la carte approach lets you choose the equipment you want, so you’re getting only what you need. With Vivint you’ll own the equipment, but with ADT it’s only a lease. On the other hand, ADT has a longstanding reputation that can’t be ignored. Its equipment is consistently high quality, and its customer service is top notch.

Price and Contract

Vivint wins easily when it comes to flexibility and low prices. With Vivint, there’s no up-front cost for a system, and even if you roll in financing, your monthly fee will be lower than it would be with ADT.

Customer Service

We’ll give this one to ADT. Around-the-clock customer service, good reviews, and many loyal long-term customers are a solid indication that ADT stands by its products.

Features

 Vivint just barely wins this one thanks to the SkyControl panel. Its two-way talk feature lets you speak to a monitoring professional when your alarm goes off.

Overall Winner: Vivint (but it’s close)

If you’re looking for cheaper prices, flexible financing, and shorter contract options, Vivint comes out on top in this face-off. But if you can pay up front and you’re ready to settle into a long-term relationship with a company with a great track record, ADT might be the better choice.